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Kari Benson of St.
Paul, an expert in aging services with more than 15 years of experience at the
federal and state levels, has been named executive director of the Minnesota
Board on Aging and director of the Minnesota Department of Human Services Aging
and Adult Services Division. The appointment is effective Feb. 1. The position
provides statewide aging services leadership for both DHS and the Minnesota
Board on Aging. Benson will oversee planning for and providing sustainable
financial, housing and service options for older Minnesotans, including
management of Minnesota’s state and federally funded home and community-based
services programs. More information is in a news
release about Benson’s appointment.
DHS is looking for
up to 10 individuals who would like to serve on the Medicaid Citizens’ Advisory
Committee (MCAC). The purpose of the committee is to ensure that continued
high-quality health and medical services are provided to low-income persons. This
committee, representing Medicaid clients, advises DHS and helps define what the
Medicaid Program should be in relationship to future health care and
technological needs. More information is in a news release
about the vacancies.
A new Minnesota
Board on Aging grant program will help community organizations raise awareness
about Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and serve caregivers of people
who have the diseases. The 2015 Legislature appropriated $1.5 million, which
will be used now through June 30, 2017, to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s
disease, increase the rate of cognitive testing in the population at risk for
dementias, promote the benefits of early diagnosis and connect caregivers to
education and resources. More information is in a news release
about the grants.
The Minnesota
Health Care Financing Task Force convened its final meeting Jan. 15. The
meeting included a vote on the full package of recommendations. The final
package from the task force will be presented to Gov. Mark Dayton and
Legislature and posted on the Health Care
Financing Task Force website in early February.
Gov. Mark Dayton proclaimed
January as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education and Outreach
Month, recognizing the need for available, healthy food for Minnesotans.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services, in partnership with the University
of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota Chippewa Tribe deliver SNAP-Ed programming
that focuses on increasing fruit, vegetable, whole grain, and low-fat or nonfat
calcium-rich food intakes; helping participants make wise food shopping and
preparation choices; and increasing daily physical activity. More information
on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can be found on the
department’s website.
The Minnesota
Department of Human Services youth practice guide, Working with
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning/queer (LGBTQ) youth (PDF),
is now available in Spanish, Hmong and Somali. The practice guide has
statistical information on LGBTQ youth, a glossary and resource list as well as
information on preserving relationships and reunifying with birth families;
engaging and building relationships with LGBTQ youth; ensuring LGBTQ youth
safety; and considering circumstances for transgender youth.
Fact sheets about DHS programs were updated during January:
Questions and comments about navigation and technical issues should be emailed to the DHS webmaster. Send news story ideas for the public website to DHS Communications.
This information is available in accessible formats for individuals with disabilities by calling 651-431-2911 or by using your preferred relay service. For other information on disability rights and protections, contact the agency's ADA coordinator.
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